Sunday, September 19, 2010

Well dear readers, this is not only just a regular late night open thread, it's the open thread for the next two weeks as Johnny is off on vacation to go hobnob with his fellow wizards. We realize what a tremendous disruption to your daily routines this is so we'd like to ask both of our regular readers to be patient and do take this time to discover new corners of the interwebs. Please though, if the mayor gets drunk again and gets into another fight PLEASE use this thread for the blow by blow action. Links to pictures wouldn't hurt our feelings ya know.

Johnny's driving back to Michigan (yes, he's horribly afraid of flying and drives everywhere) for a very special and much awaited anniversary party waaaaay up on Mackinac Island and then kicking around the lower peninsula to enjoy family and friends and revel in the fall colors. If some of you have never been to Mackinac Island, you're missing a true gem of Americana. With a beautiful view of the mighty Mackinac Bridge, the island allows no cars, only bikes and horses. After dealing with auto traffic in Jersey City and NYC it will truly be a cathartic three days on the island.

So, all of you be good, Johnny will drive safely, and we'll meet back up here in a couple weeks. Be there, Aloha!

Those brash talking, Super Bowl bound just ask us Jets are home today at the Meadowlands for 4:15 pm kickoff vs. the dreaded New England Patriots. It'll be a gorgeous day for football around these parts with partly cloudy skies and temps near 80º. The Jets really really really need some offensive absolution after the gigantic egg they laid last Monday night. Can Mark Sanchez move this ballclub? He faces another whip sharp defense today and New Jersey Jets fans should have a pretty good idea where this team is headed before heading home tonight.

The Giants are playing in the Manning bowl today in Indianapolis as Peyton hosts little brother Eli tonight in the 8:30 ESPN game. The Giants are 1-0 after a convincing win last week while the Colts, ever the AFC superpower is showing signs of chinks in the armor having a pathetic pre-season followed by an absolute dog of a game last week losing in Houston. Can the Colts bounce back at the G-Men's expense? That's why we watch now isn't it?

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Well pigskin fans, Rutgers is off this Saturday with a bye week as they prepare for a very tough North Carolina team next week in Piscataway. The Tar Heels' calling card is defense and Rutgers will need to practice practice practice as currently the Scarlet Knights are ranked #100 out of 120 Division 1 schools in offense. Also of local interest today Connecticut is at Temple @ noon, 2-0 Delaware is at home to Duquesne, Rhode Island is home to New Hampshire, Princeton starts their season today in Bethlehem Pennsylvania where they will take on mighty Lehigh @ 12:30. Tonight a very uncivil rivalry will play out in East Lansing as Michigan State plays host to hated Notre Dame. Sparty has won 10 of the last 13 games between the two.

Now, let's make fun of people (Thanks Sonopy)...1. What does the average Univ. of Florida player get on his SATs?……..Drool.

2. What do you get when you put 32 West Virginia cheerleaders in one room?……..A full set of teeth.

3. How do you get a Nebraska cheerleader into your dorm room?……..Grease her hips and push.

4. How do you get an Ohio State graduate off your porch?………Pay him for the pizza.

5. How do you know if an Alabama football player has a girlfriend?……There is tobacco spit on both sides of his pickup.

6. Why is the Kentucky football team like a possum?….Because they play dead at home and get killed on the road.

7. What are the longest three years of a Texas Longhorn football player’s life?……..His freshman year.

8. How many Oklahoma freshmen does it take to change a light bulb?……..None. That’s a sophomore course.

9. Where was O. J. Headed in the white Bronco?……. Durham , North Carolina. He knew that the police would never look at Duke for a Heisman Trophy winner.

10. How do you keep an FSU football player out of your front yard?....... Erect a goal post!

11. Why did Tennessee choose orange as their team color?……..You can wear it to the game on Saturday, hunting on Sunday, and picking up trash along the highways the rest of the week.

A police detective was investigating a homicide. As he questioned the on-scene officer, he learned the body was that of a young woman. The body was found with a bowl over her head and a spoon stuck in her back.

The on-scene officer asked what the detective thought had happened to the woman.

She's the best Jerry, the best! Probably THE most talented singer songwriter of, well maybe ever. She's written some the most famous, influential and best selling songs ever; Some Kind of Wonderful by the Drifters, The Loco-Motion by Little Eva, Go Away Little Girl a million seller for Donny Osmond, One Fine Day by the Chiffons, Don't Bring Me Down by The Animals, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin, and Will You Love Me Tomorrow by The Shirelles to name SOME of her songwriting prowess. Her album Tapestry sold a billion copies and Johnny loves her.

Let's end tonight's music series with a real rocker and pretty much a love letter to the gals who travelled with the band. Legends like Penny Lane. Some names in this song may have been changed to protect the not so innocent. Deep Purple with 'Knocking at Your Back Door'.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Holy man those were some storms today. Especially strange to have at least two tornadoes reportedly in Brooklyn and Staten Island especially this late in the season. Here is video tonight of one of these reported tornadoes in Northern Crown Heights.

The New York Times hips us today to a this wacky nugget of information, crooks prefer Yankees caps. Now why is this? Is it because this is a Yankees town and they're popular? Is it because they are Mets fans who haven't bought a Mets hat yet? Are they Newark Bears fans who just want to trade-up image wise? Is it because it makes them all badass?

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Johnny was saddened today to hear that one of the great all time character actors, Harold Gould had passed away last Saturday. His role as the dapper con man Kid Twist in the 1973 Oscar winning movie The Sting is never to be forgotten.

First of all Johnny would like to thank the two citizens who suggested he run for Mayor via the email yesterday. You gave Johnny a good laugh. Though the idea is appealing on some levels Johnny seriously doubts the people here want a transplant to run JC. They want someone with more than two years around town.

Now, as for reclamation, there will be a rally/ recall Mayor Healy petition signature collection event tonight before the 6 pm city council meeting at city hall on Grove St. One of the leaders of the petition drive, John Lynch, told the Jersey Journal "We’re moving forward and we’re excited, It got approved yesterday by Mr. Byrne and we hit the ground running.” The group must collect the signatures of 30,067 registered voters by Feb. 22, 2011.

Now collecting those signatures won't be easy, in fact expect Healy's people to put up fierce resistance, they need him in charge to keep the gravy train running. Expect Healy supporters to sign as many petitions as possible trying to void them, no doubt they'll enlist those not registered to vote to sign and invalidate the petitions that way. We wouldn't be surprised to hear public signature gatherings rousted by Jersey City's finest at the behest of the powers that be. Again, this will not be easy but nothing worthwhile is.

If you would like to help take back the city from the forces of corruption the contact info is as follows:Phone: (201) 855 4605eMail: jcrecall@yahoo.com

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

We're gonna give you all the info on the Mayor Healy recall tomorrow kids so look for that. It's YOUR city, you can let crooks run it or you can kick their asses down the street. A patriot would be in the ass kicking busines.

So a dedication tonight with a warning, the peasants are very very upset right now Serf Healy. We're angry at the way city business is conducted and why we never have any money for services but there's always plenty to grease palms and for no charge car leases and free gas. We're angry you stayed pretty silent while your deputy mayor and city council president were indicted and pled guilty to felonies. You said nothing, no outrage, not so much as a finger wag. Thanks for that. It showed where your real allegiances lie.

Tonight friends we'll send you to bed with a magnificent song, one of Johnny's all time favorites. Here's Steely Dan with 'The Royal Scam'.

Political gadfly and all around asshole Mariano Vega resigned his city council seat yesterday under cloak of gloamin, resigning minutes before a city council meeting (more on this in a few) and will today drive his sorry ass out to Newark and plead GUILTY to the crimes he was arrested for in the summer of 2009, you know, the charges he staunchly denied time and time again. Well Mario, guess what, today you are a felon. No more guesswork, no more 'allegedly, no today you become a felon. You were guilty from the outset and you knew it. You wasted time and money of the citizens of this city in pretending to fight these charges all while getting paid to attend city council meetings you didn't bother to show up for. You stole under the guise of representing Jersey City citizens. Simply heinous. There is a special place in hell for those who make themselves rich while they should be doing city business.

As for his resignation, it really wouldn't be Mariano Vega if he didn't pull the equivalent of taking a steaming poop on the carpet of the house he is moving out of. Vega's resignation comes just 4 days after the deadline that would have allowed the citizens to hold a special election for his seat (and we're SURE that Vega had no idea about the timing of this --snork) so now his replacement is appointed (no doubt to get Kwame Healy another lackey on city council) and no special election can be held for Vega's seat until November of 2011. Nice guy isn't he? On his way to plead guilty to felony charges he can't resist gaming the system one more time. Like we said, asshole.

So for now it looks like Vega's council aide Hilario Nunez will be appointed to take over his seat.

Disgusting. Simply disgusting. City voters don't get any REAL say in their representative and can't throw off the shackles of Vega's stink because he wanted his own personal aide to live up to his "high" standards. Citizens of Jersey City, the time is NOW to all show up at city council meeting and DEMAND to be heard. Show up with torches and pitchforks, get in the representatives grills on the street. Let them know you're paying attention. This city simply cannot allow this kind of "I'll steal until they catch me then I'll turn it over to one of my supporters" anymore.

People, we need action and a healthy dose of ANGER over the way this city is run. Healy MUST GO. Nidia Lopez/Boehringer MUST GO. Peter Brennan MUST GO. We have a lot of housecleaning yet to do Jersey City, nobody get complacent.

The Healy promise of "Change We Can See" runs through Federal Court in Newark.

No tailgating right now, no tossing the football around, no comfy stretching out in your seat at the new stadium before the game, no, it's a run for shelter on the concourse. Tell us if you think this whopper of a storm blasting through town is an omen for the NJ Jets.

First off if you think Johnny is posting to vent about that hideous call that screwed the Detroit Lions today, remember, Johnny's a Browns fan. Let the Lions fans point out the officiating in the NFL is fast getting it the reputation the NBA has and that's not good.

No, Johnny would like to take this time to say he LOVES the NFL Red Zone channel. All the TD's, all the best action, it's a BRILLIANT addition to NFL Sundays. Now, imagine how excited Johnny was to see he'd have it in HD. Here's the rub, the HD is unwatchable, the signal keeps warbling in and out with picture loss every few seconds which in essence means Red Zone will have to be watched in non HD. NFL, you have all the power and they money to make something like the Red Zone in HD actually work, we know you can do it. The technology exists. Let's get that together shall we?

Take an umbrella or some kind of rain gear. The forecast calls for showers most of the day. Of course, Eli Manning, that's no excuse to not have a good game but the Giant fans will want to dress rain-ready.

And as we learn from reading our New York Times this morning nobody knows more about the vintage NYC cop cars than Glenn Sokolofsky. Sokolofsky tells some amazing stories of the old NYC police rides. Did you know that early patrol cars were convertibles? Convertibles with no flashing lights or sirens? Convertibles that when it rained still had to get the boss' permission to put the top up. It's a fact, and along with the other nuggets listed in the story make this a good Sunday read.

Air Force 35BYU 14Those US flag lightning bolts the Air Force had on their helmets in place of the regular blue lightning bolts in honor of 9/11 were so cool

South Dakota 41Minnesota 38The Golden Goofers lose to their second Division 1-AA team at home in four years

Michigan State 30Florida Atlantic 17The Spartans have one impressive stable of running backs. Top notch.

Michigan 28Notre Dame 24If Denard Robinson keeps this up they'll be naming a new element after him on the periodic table --'Robinesium'.

James Madison 21Virginia Tech 16VT utterly chokes to a division 1-AA team under the weight of James Madison's biggest effort since the Federalist Papers.

Maryland 62Morgan St. 3Fear the turtle.

Miami (O) 28Eastern Michigan 21Ron English is now 0-14 in his career at EMU. yeah, like Johnny said at the time, it was a bad hire.

Louisville 23Eastern Kentucky 13Hey Jessup, what are you doing today? Nothing. What are you doing today Zebediah? Nothing. We COULD go to the Louisville vs EKU game, it'd at least be SOMETHING. Louisville football, catch the fever.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

That's right Scarlet Knight fans, the Knights are all the way down in sunny Florida tonight for an 8 pm kickoff vs. the nere-do-wells from Florida International.

The Scarlet Knights are fresh off of a 31-0 pasting of Norfolk State some 9 days ago while the FIU Golden Panthers are playing their first game tonight. At first blush you may think Rutgers would be prohibitive favorites tonight but FIU will cause the boys from Piscataway some problems with their passing attack. T.Y. Hilton a junior wideout had a down year in 2009 yet remains a big weapon for FIU. 6' 4" Greg Ellington is another Panthers threat in the passing game. Face it, when you can run a 6' 4" receiver on the field you have a chance.

A hot and humid Miami night awaits Rutgers down in Miami with gametime temps a muggy 80º with the very real possibility this game may see some rain.

Johnny's Fearless Forecast: Rutgers has played a game and should have that advantage even though it's a road game. If Rutgers can keep their legs under them on a hot night they SHOULD win. Johnny says:

Well pedestrian accident fans, we've got a doozy for you this morning. Katlyn Menge was either trying to cross Tonnelle at Carlton or she lost her balance and stumbled out into traffic but was hit by a man in a Nissan Pathfinder (Why do Pathfinders hate Americans?) and sadly suffered a possible hip and leg fracture and she might have been suffering internal bleeding. She was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center. It was there where police cited Ms. Menge for failing to use the marked crosswalk, improper crossing of a roadway and obstructing public passage.

Now we don't doubt Ms. Menge DESERVED the tickets but in a case like this sometimes the punishment already fits the crime as we just have a hunch after she recovers Ms. Menge will be VERY careful before walking into traffic again.

An instrumental, Joe Strummer? Yeah buddy. Joe was into a LOT of different types of music after the Clash. Brought up that way. Here's an infectious groove called 'War Cry'. Bonus points for anyone who can tell the class what movie this was used in. Now you know what it's called you can add it to your iTunes post haste.

With Saturday being the anniversary of the terror attacks on America, local Hudson county municipalities will be holding memorials of their own. The Jersey Journal has collected a list of the wheres and whens.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

"Every time Catherine revved up the microwave, I'd piss my pants and forget who I was for about half an hour or so".--Cousin Eddie in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation on the metal plate in his head

Johnny, on one of his morning walks through Jersey City is really amazed at all the construction in the Powerhouse Arts District (PAD). Today the property at 150 Bay St. is being carved up to create first floor businesses, actually being carved and opened so that new business can hopefully break out in Jersey City. We'd love to see what's planned to go into 150 Bay St. (It'll most likely try to look like it's neighbor building across Provost at 140 Bay that has loft condos with first floor businesses). It looks like the property at 140 Bay St. got it right so here's hoping 150 Bay St. can emulate it's neighbor.

There is an awful lot of construction going on in the PAD, with the Powerhouse Arts Building itself undergoing renovations. We're all for this. We'd rather not see a garish 50 floor condo building spring up in PAD like the Trump Tower, but would love to see all those old warehouses refurbished.

You could have knocked Johnny over with a big feather at hearing this. The first Giants Stadium, you know, Jimmy Hoffa's resting place (if you want to know the REAL story on Mr. Hoffa and where he TRULY met his end email Johnny, he does know the sad end) and current parking lot for the NEW Meadowlands is still costing New Jersey taxpayers $13 EACH a year as the demolished stadium still has a $110 million debt.

That being said what the hell is wrong with your head Emily? First off you just did a HUGE disservice to any family anywhere trying to impress upon local authorities THEIR loved ones wouldn't just vanish, something must be wrong. Police will say "Yeah but what about that woman in Hoboken -- we'd better wait on your report". Shame on you Ms. Grace. You just made it that much harder for others with missing family.

Next we'd like to point out the love and support your family received over the last month. No doubt the people who helped feel gutshot. A simple apology for causing them distress seems so cliche and doesn't even begin to approach the harm visited upon these good people.

Also, did you think that police agencies work for free? It costs time and money and valuable resources to track you down. A LOT of money. So thank you for drawing money from other places in the Hoboken police budget.

At some point you will have to deal with those closest to you and explain yourself. For the rest of us however save your apology, that would be time better spent on reflecting on just how badly you acted in your disappearing act.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

A Parsippany woman had $150 and her passport stolen near the light rail stop at Essex and Washington Thursday night in one of Jersey City's quieter neighborhood for crime. The woman said she was walking with four friends when someone jumped out of the bushes near them grabbed her purse and ran.

Purse snatchers rely on surprise for their attacks, so if you are vigilant you can help stop these kinds of strong arm tactics. Be alert, always think that someone wants what you're carrying and do what you have to do to secure it.

Penn St. 44Youngstown St. 14Joe Paterno might as well be a cardboard cut out at this point. And just leave it there even when the new coach starts one day. He'd just always be in the same place. Put lights on him at Christmas.

LSU 30North Carolina 24Glad LSU won this one. With 9 guys sitting out for various misdemeanors and felonies AND another Tar Heel player arrested the night before the season started show North Carolina is just a program out of control. This loss should hurt and the UNC players can now look at the 9 guys who cost them this game.

Michigan State 38Western Michigan 14Le'Veon Bell is getting a nice fruit basket for the holidays this year. A true freshman, Bell had 141 yards on 10 carries. Not bad for the second string guy. Now get back to Kalamazoo you silly little horsies.

Michigan 30Connecticut 10UConn showed they are the not ready for prime time players today. Denard Robinson simply ran at will against the Huskies defense. A quarterback with almost 200 yards rushing? Johnny knows what Connecticut will be working on in practice Monday.

Texas 34Rice 17Texas fried Rice

Oregon 72New Mexico 0Every player for Oregon scored a touchdown today on 'Beat the holy hell out of New Mexico Day' at Autzen Stadium.

Army 31Eastern Michigan 27Ron English keeps his perfect record at Eastern. 0-13 as head man in Ypsilanti. Now, don't give up the ship just yet Huron fans, a chance to get power up and win a game comes next Saturday against Miami (O) and if it doesn't come then......yikes.

TCU 30Oregon State 21It's not every day Horned Frogs and Beavers have at one another.

Lehigh 28Drake 14Lehigh got the most out of their plane ride. If the road game is more than 8 hours by bus the NCAA says you must fly and Lehigh hadn't flown to a game in many many moons. Unless you drive real fast Drake, located in Iowa, would be a wee bit longer than 8 hour ride from Bethlehem PA. Plus you would have to stop in Indiana for fireworks.

Northwestern 23Vanderbilt 21Take that Gloria Vanderbilt.

This Week's Jersey City Desk Game of the Week®North Dakota St. 6Kansas 3OK, who had the over/under of NINE goddamned points? Nine. What kind of butt dumpling coach do you have to be at Kansas (Turner Gill -- we checked) to lose to North Dakota St? Seriously, you just lost at home 6-3 to a team from Fargo. Fear the Bison.

Wanna know what Johnny noticed about Jimi Hendrix at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame display area dedicated to Jimi? How small a guy he really was. Not tall and certainly not wide. They had a stage costume he used on display compliments of his family and while cool was small.

Unless of course they can show Johnny one team in the NCAA who plays their best game in the first week of the season. The biggest improvements any college football expert will tell you come between the first game and the second game so let's cut the Scarlet Knights some slack. Yes, it was an ugly, dreary mistake filled game. That's why Norfolk St. was the first opponent. Ohio State didn't start out last night with Miami (FL), that's next week, last night was Marshall.

Never has Johnny seen and heard so much needless consternation over a 31-0 win. If anybody wants to make an issue of it to the team it's head coach Greg Schiano who is VERY aware of his teams many mistakes last night.

It's Johnny's guess when sizing up bowl bids later this year will no Rutgers fans or writers will say "Yeah, they shouldn't play in a New Year's Day bowl game, I know they're right on the line to play in such a game but boy were they stinky back in early September against Norfolk State".

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Don't you just love it when people get their comeuppance? When people think they can lie because it's just how they handle such things. Johnny normally doesn't spend much if any time thinking about Paris Hilton but this was a phenomenal 'give 'em enough rope' moment. You know the purse that suddenly wasn't hers that had the cocaine in it? Why officer, that's not MINE how could you even think such a thing? Take a click at the picture and see how the age of the internet claimed it's most famous creation.

Michael Kelso used to have the perfect phrasing for this on That 70's Show:

Intern Zoltron tied to the top of the Goldman Sachs building with a bucket to measure rain and a video camera, check.

Here we go kids. Tomorrow is shaping up to be quite a windy rainy day here in Cool City with winds in the 25-35 mph range with gusts as high as 50 mph tomorrow night, not too bad considering what could have been with the monster offshore being a category 3 storm.

So we wait but also for the benefits of this hurricane. It's gonna suck the crappy mid 90's and humid weather we've had since July 4th right with it (this was the hottest summer in New Jersey or New York ever recorded). Saturday will be in the mid 70's with lows Saturday night in the 50's. Yes, 50's! Sunday will be in the low 70's with Labor Day a cool 80 and sunny.

Jersey City Desk good friend Trixie Action Space Punk shot Johnny this story yesterday and while Johnny may have exaggerated the size of the raccoons they are taking over Gotham. As Johnny can tell you, raccoons are extremely adaptable and very intelligent. They can break into a home through about any gap or potential opening they can exploit.

Thus far over 2,100 New Yorkers have called the city about a raccoon problem. Said councilman James Vacca:

"...But the question a lot of people are asking is, when does a nuisance become a menace? In an interview, Councilman James Vacca said with more than a hint of exasperation in his voice: “Years ago, people thought this was cute. Well, it’s not cute when a raccoon is scratching at your door at 2 in the morning.”

So New Yorkers, have you had reason to call the city? We'd love to hear from you (or if anyone anywhere else has a raccoon story to share).

One question we would like answered; If raccoons are pests and can cause destruction why oh why haven't Sarah Palin or Newt Gingrich complained that the raccoons have their own lodge two blocks from Ground Zero?